Apparatus for lowering coffins.



ATENTED MAY l5, 1906.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 820,593. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

F. J. NEJEDLO. APPARATUS FOR LOWERING COFFNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13,1905

P'ATENTED MAY 15, 190e.

P. J. NEJBDLO. APPARATUS POR LOWERING GOFFINS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13,1935.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

FRANTISEK JOSEF N EJ EDLO, OF VINOHRADY PRAGUE, AUSTRA- HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR TO JULIUS SKALL, OF PRAGUE, AUSTRIA- HUNGA RY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 190e.

Application filed .April 13. 1905. Serial No. 255.4110.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that I, FRANTISEK JOSEF NE- JEDLO, a subject of the Emperor of Austria- Hungary, residing at Vinohrady-Prague, Austria-Hungary, have invented a new land useful Apparatus for Lowering .Ooflins, o which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in instruments for carrying and sinking coflins; and the objects of my improvements are,iirst, to obtain a bier which can be easily tr-ansported and used over vaults whichhave openings of limited dimensions; second, to afford means for regulating the sinking without .any disturb ance and to assure rthe position of the coffin in any moment, third, to afford means for regulating the sinking by any unskilled man without particular learning or teaching as to handling it. I attain these .objects yby the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the entire machine. Fig. 2 is a side view `and partly a section through the machinery in the direction of the axes of the worms. Fig. 3 is asection through the machinery in the direction perpendicular to the axes of the worms. Figs. 4 and 5 are front views of the coupling-disks in a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a side view from the end which is opposite to that .of the machinery in Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and 8 are a vertical section and a plan of the automatic buckle which couples the strap under the coflin. Fig. 9 shows the arrangement of the handle. Fig. 10 is another `arrangement of the machineryshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a side view ofthe casings in Fig. 10.

Similar letters refer to similar parts Theframing of the bier is composed of horizontal tubes 6 and vertical bars 1, with horizontal prolongating bars 86 sliding inside the tubes 6 and bars 35 on both long sides, the horizontal tubes .6 being prolonged on the left side in Fig. 1 for the purpose of carrying thel machinery casings 4, which are joined together by horizontal tubes 26, Fig. 2. The heads 6 of the horizontal tubes 6 surpass the casings 4, and the casings are provided with hinged hooks, so as to assure the fastening, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Similar hinged hooks 7 are provided upon the bars 5, Figs. 1 .and 6, which form the opposite side of the bier, these to be hooked upon the ylongitudinal bars 36, Fig. 1, as shown by the drawings. The handles '37 of the bier .are mountedinto hollow heads which .are fastened to .the `ends of bars '36, and they have two partitions with borings through which the .cylindrical body of the handle can be introduced, .as shown in Fig. 9.

This body is provided at its end with ya tooth.

47, and said two `partitions have correspondving gates 48 49., by which said tooth 47 can be introduced and turned, so that it is locked in the body, while if turned 'back it can be in the same way again easily taken off.

Two horizontal spindles 8 91turn-ing one in the other, are mounted on both sides upon the vertical bars 1,1.each of said spindles carrying 4a pulley 2, which can lslide along the bar, but is obliged .to turn with it. On each of said pulleys is fas-.tened a strap 3 by means of a .pin 38 or the like, and the straps can be regulated :by means of -appropriate buckles 39. Two and two of said pulleys ,can be placed opposite 4Veach other on the two sides of the vaults, and the ends of their straps are provided with an automatic buckle 32,which yjoins said straps .together as long as the coflin reposes upon it, but which opens itself and is loosened at once as soon as it sinks to the bottom of the vault, Fig. 6. Said buckle 32 is ycomposed of a hollow .body having a firm plate on its ground .and .a hook 46 on its top 44, a tongue 45 which is fastened at the end of the opposite strap, being provided with a boring by which it .can be introduced upon said hook from beneath, so ,as to hold firmly as long as it is kept by sufficient tension of its strap.3 in this position, which is the case as long as the weight .of the coflin reposes upon it in the air, but if spindles 8 0119 are turned with their pulley each side so as to unroll their strapsand to sink the coffin so .deep that the buckle reaches the solid ground `and till it reposes with its bottom upon it the tension of the straps ceases and the tongue 45 will fall off from said hook 46, so that the straps 3 can easily be wound up upon their pulleys 2 by turning spindles 8 9 on both sides in the direction opposite to the former one. This is `obtained by means of the machinery which is contained in the casing 4, Figs. 1 to 5, Figs. 10 .and 1 1 showing a variation of it, as will be explained. Figs. 1 and 2 show the said mechanism with two horizontal spindles 15 and 18,

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each having two worms 22 24 and 14'27 'fastened upon them, both spindles being led through the tubes 26 and being journaled in the casings 4. Each of the upper worms 22 and 24 gears with a conical toothed wheel 23 and 25, ea'ch of which is fastened upon a short horizontal spindle which is j ournaled in each of said casings 4 in continuation of the long inward horizontal spindle 8. Another toothed wheel 31, with a hollow boss 9, is loose upon the said short spindle 8 in the casing 4, Fig. 3, in continuation of the hollow spindle 9, and both long spindles 8 and 9 are coupled with their short pieces of continuation on each side by means of two pairs of coupling-disks 10 11, Figs. 3 to 5, the outside disks 11 forming one piece with the hollow spindles 9 and the inside disks 10 one piece with the inward spindles 8. it will be understood that said disks have corresponding teeth and notches 41 42, which clasp into each other easily if the bier is to be remounted. Said wheel 31 gears with a wheel 30, which is fastened upon a spindle 29, carrying a conical toothed Wheel 28, which gears with the worm 14, which is fastened upon the spindle 18, as mentioned before, having on its other end another such worm 27, into which gears another conical toothed wheel. Said spindle 18 carries on outside of the casing a chainwheel 17, which is fastened to it, while the upper spindle 15 carries outside the casing a boss with a chain-wheel 16, which is situated exactly vertically over the chain-wheel 17 and gears with it by means of a chain, said end of spindle 15 carrying besides this a free handle 19, which is situated between two halfwheels 12 and 13, the former being fastened to said spindle 15, while the latter is cast in one piece with the boss of chain-wheel 16. Upon said pieces, 12 and 13 are hinged hooks 20 and 21, which can be hooked into said free or fiying handle 16. If this handle is held by hook 21 while hook 20 is loose, as shown in Fig. 2, it will be understood that in turning the handle 19 spindle 18 will be revolved, and

with it the spindles 29 on both sides of the bier, thus therefore also, by means of the gearing 30 31, the outward spindles 9 and both the pulleys 2 upon them, while spindles 15 and 8 stand still. if in the other case said flying handle 19 is caught by 'hook 20 while hook 21 is loose and if now said handle 19 is turned, the upper spindle 15 will revolve with its worms 22 and 24, and therefore also the inside spindles 8, with their pulleys 2, while the spindles 18 and 9 stand still. In case of both hooks 2O and 21 being hooked in it will be evident that turning the handle 19 must produce turning of both pairs of pulleys 2. It

also will be understood that the pulleys 2 of each pair must turn opposite each other, so as either to lift or to sink the load reposing upon their strap 3, Fig. 6, according to the direction in which handle 19 will be turned. Finally,

it hardly needs to be mentioned and explained that the gearing is calculated so that in any case when handle 19 is turned the rolling of said pulleys 2 must proceed equally and regularly, and consequently the coffin must sink exactly in perpendicular direction. A bolt 33 is provided near the coupling-disks 11, Figs. 3 and 5, which can be slid into their clutches 40, so as to assure the position of the coffin at any moment. Besides this, a strap brake 34 of any known construction may be provided for the purpose of obtaining full assurance of the position of the coffin in any case.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a modification of the same machinery. 75 is again the flying handle, which is mounted between the two halfwheels, like 12 and 13 were in Fig. 2, upon the upper horizontal axis, which in Fig. 2 is marked 15, having a similar chain-gearing for transmitting the rotations of chain-wheel 16 to the lower axis 18. The only difference in the hookin part of this modification is that instead o the hooks 2O and 21 in Fig. 2 sliding bolts 73 and 74, with corresponding borings 76 in said flying handle are arranged, Fig. 10, and instead of hooking one or the other or both the halves of the wheel 12 13 the like parts are coupled just in the same order in bolting them with the stops 73 and 74, and the manipulation does not change at all by the modification of this detail; but different is the connection of the casings 4, which in Figs. 1 and 2 are firmly connected by the tubes 26, while in the modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the same casings, which are marked by 52 and 53 and which are supported by the stands 50 and 51, are in this case provided with supports 69 7 0 71 72, which are traversed and connected by a horizontal bar 68, the horizontal bars 54 and 55, which pass through the casings 52 and 53, being secured by nuts to them. Both the horizontal spindles, which in Fig. 2 are marked 15 and 18, now in the modification shown in Fig. 10 are not rigid and of one piece, but are combined of several pieces, being connected by universal articulations to 64, by which the middle parts 58 and 59 are connected with those which are mounted in the casings 52 and 53, said articulations being coupled to ether by means of bolts 64 65 66 67, so that y taking 0H these bolts the parts 58 and 59 are also made loose. It is evident that by means of said bolts the machinery can be held together when mounted or taken to pieces at convenience. The coffin can either be carried to the vault upon the bier, or in other cases the bier is arranged over the vault, and then the coffin is laid on it. In either case the pulleys 2, with their straps 3, are re ulated so as to support the coffin in the ri t place and position as required, and suc osition is assured in locking the machinery y the bolt 33, as described IOO ITO

before. If the opening of the vault is too short, the coffin needs to be inclined on one end for the sake of transporting it into the vault. This is done by hooking or coupling one of the pieces 12 or 13 only and leaving the other open and afterward in turning the handle 19, as described before in reference to Figs. 2 and 10. In this case one or two of the men who help to sink the coffin stand below and place the coffin into the vault while it is in such an inclined position as required by circumstances. After this the other end is sunk also, and the rest of the sinking is performed as before I claimn 1. An apparatus for lowering coflins comprising pairs of longitudinallyarallel forward and rearward lowering-sha ts, a pair of pulleys for each shaft, a single operatin crank, and means connecting said crank wit said forward or rearward shafts or both.

2. An apparatus for lowering coffins comprising forward lowering-shafts, a pulley for each of said shafts, a mam shaft for operating said forward shafts, a .crank loosely mounted on said main shaft, rearward shafts telescoping said forward shafts, pulleys for said rearward shafts, a counter-shaft geared to said main shaft and driving said rearward shafts, and means connecting said crank with said forward or rearward shafts or both.

3. An apparatus for lowering coflins comprising forward lowering-shafts, a pulley for each of said shafts, a main shaft for operating for connectin said lowering-shafts, a crank loosely mounted on said main shaft, rearward loweringshafts, pulleys therefor, a counter-shaft geared to said main shaft for operating said rearward shafts, and means for connecting said crank with said forward or rearward shafts or both.

4. A crank mechanism for devices of the crass described comprising a main drivingshaft, a crank loosely mounted thereon, loose and fixed members for said shaft, and means for engaging said crank with said loose or fixed members or both.

5. A crank mechanism for devices of the crass described comprising a main drivingshaft., a crank loosely mounted thereon, a sectional wheel mounted on said shaft, one section being loose and the other being fixed on said shaft, and catch devices for each section whereby said crank may be connected with either one or .both of said sections.

6. An apparatus for lowering cofIins comprising pairs of longitudinally-parallel lowering-shafts each pair being independently rotata le, a single operating-crank, and lmeans said crank with one or more pairs of said s afts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANTISEK JOSEF NEJEDLO.

Witnesses:

EMIL WENDLING, ADoLPH FISCHER. 

